All matches should be played with pink ball: Khurram Manzoor

Double centurion opines players need to gain more day-night experience

KARACHI: Karachi Blues opener Khurram Manzoor, who on Monday became the first Pakistani to score a double-century with the pink ball, believes all matches of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy should be day-night matches and played with the pink ball.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has organised 11 day-night matches to be played in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this season and Manzoor, who made 250 runs in the second innings of his team’s match against UBL, says that having more day-night matches would allow players to get accustomed to the new ball.

“It wasn’t easy playing with the pink ball and every player found it difficult to adjust,” Manzoor told The Express Tribune. “It would be great if all the matches are played with the pink ball.”

Shukar Allahumdullilah scored today 250 against UBL...,becomes 1st pakistani who made double hundred with pink ball pic.twitter.com/l9BTJMKfH8

— Khurram Manzoor Khan (@_khurrammanzoor) October 3, 2016

Manzoor, who managed to make only 11 runs in the first innings, revealed that both the batsmen and the fielders found visibility a major concern with the pink ball.

“All of us found is difficult to adjust to the pink ball in the beginning, something which can be seen from our scores in the first innings. Even the fielders were not able to see the ball,” he said. “But the second innings was much better which just shows that we need more practice with the new ball.”

Manzoor also highlighted the importance of switching from the red ball to the pink, stating that the change will make the players more technically astute.

“This is also a good step to involve each team in these conditions with the pink ball and then taking them back to normal with red ball, this will highlight player’s abilities,” he added.

This was Manzoor’s fourth double century in first-class cricket and the 30-year-old, who smashed 39 boundaries in his 340-ball stay, is hoping to improve further and take his team to the final.

“While this is a great individual achievement to become the first Pakistani to score a double century, I want to do whatever I can to help my team,” he said. “Taking Karachi Blues to the final would be amazing.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2016.

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